Top Destination Travel News From May 2023

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded several grants in May to states that feature the iconic Route 66 roadway in order to improve and maintain the road and its tourism attractions. 

Dubai, the trendy city in the United Arab Emirates, is set to become one of the most popular cities in the world, according to new data released by its Department of Economy and Tourism.

During the first quarter of 2023, Brazil welcomed 2.3 million travelers, exceeding both its pre-pandemic totals and the numbers of visitors it welcomed just prior to the pandemic in 2020. Flight data and tourism numbers show a connection: an expansion of flights from key places like the U.S. has helped facilitate this growth.

Bermuda rejoined the Caribbean Tourism Organization in May. The partnership will help Bermuda create and facilitate a unified growth in sustainable and responsible tourism while also recovering from the pandemic.

New research from Visit California shows how the state's tourism has grown 32 percent in 2022 and is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels for visitor spending, employment and tax generation this year.

Disney announced this May that beginning in 2024, travelers to the parks will no longer be required to purchase date-based tickets, along with a return of Disney dining plans for guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel.

During May, the Hawaiian government announced it was considering eliminating the Hawaii Tourism Authority and replacing it with a destination management organization; the HTA has received no funding for its upcoming fiscal year, which could pose a threat to the state's tourism management, from cultural festivals to community-led volunteer opportunities that the HTA has supported. Two days later, on May 10, the government voted to postpone the vote for disbanding the HTA for seven months, giving it enough time and funds to continue for awhile longer.

A new feature highlights how the Dominican Republic is surpassing prior tourism records and plans to enhance its relationship with the United States and Europe to achieve welcoming ten million travelers into the half-island nation.

Jamaica received the Destination Resilience Award for its addressing of the UN World Tourism Organization's seventeen sustainable development goals by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association in May.

Orlando is still the most-visit travel destination in the United States, according to 2022 visitor number data from Visit Orlando. Seventy-four million people visited the city in 2022; that number is just two percent less than the pre-pandemic total.

Following the World Health Organization's May 9 declaration that the COVID-19 global health crisis was officially over, Chile has ended all of its pandemic-related entry and travel requirements. The country anticipates welcoming 3.5 million tourists in 2023.

Miami is another Florida destination that is recognizing its growth following the COVID-19 pandemic. A new feature takes a look at how the travel industry has operated since then.

South Africa is rebounding following the pandemic, according to data released during the Africa Travel Indaba conference held in May. South Africa was the third most-visited country in Africa in 2022, and Americans, particularly African Americans, are driving the country's recovery.

A new earnings statement from Disney begins as a touch-off point for this feature, which wonders what the entertainment giant's next steps could be in the travel space. 

The UNWTO's second World Tourism Barometer of 2023 showcases how the Middle East is driving the post-pandemic recovery, with its number of arrivals up 15 percent from its pre-pandemic total.

The United States issued updated travel advisories for three countries in May: Colombia, Jamaica and Chile. Read why here.

The Walt Disney Company asked courts to dismiss the lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis in mid-May, which could end the public feud between the presidential candidate and the entertainment giant.

New research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council shows how Canada's travel industry is nearly meeting 2019 pre-pandemic numbers. The industry is expected to generate $162 billion for Canada's economy in 2023.

For the first time in history, the United States and the Faroe Islands will have a regularly scheduled direct flight option, beginning August 22 through October 4 of this year. The route will be from New York International Airport (SWF) and Vágar Airport (FAE).

This month, the 118th UN World Tourism Organization's Executive Council meeting was held in the Dominican Republic. Topics the council discussed include issues surrounding tourism, from the sargassum blooms expanding in the warm Caribbean waters to the post-pandemic recovery many of the countries can celebrate.

Turks and Caicos is eliminating its TCI Tourist Board in favor of a destination management organization, Experience Turks and Caicos. The announcement came this month, though the tourist board will be officially end its operations in late June.

Six countries issued travel advisories warning travelers about gun violence in the United States this May. The countries include Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela and Uruguay.